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<br />• Page 19 <br />been well documented in the past for the CYCC Eckman Park and Seneca II <br />Mines as well as the Edna Mine and is a continuing trend. Whether there is <br />actually a higher calving success on the mine sites or the fact that cows <br />with calves are more readily observed on the reclaimed areas (as compared <br />to offsite areas) remains a question to be answered. <br />observations show a significant increase in elk numbers on mine si+.es <br />during hunting season. This appears to be in response to off site hunting <br />pressure moving the animals onto the mine sites where no hunting is <br />permitted. <br />In summary it has been found during the course of baseline studies and <br />three years of monitoring that: (1) during normal winters there is little bp~ <br />S ~~h <br />use of the Moffat area by deer and elk, (2) no key *.aintering areas occur on I <br />or near the Edna Mine property, (3) the Moffat area is used by deer for <br />fawning, but not elk for calving, (4) the undisturbed aspen grove at the <br />south end of the property is an important elk calving ground, (5) suitable <br />habitat for fawning exists adjacent to the Moffat area, (6) there is a <br />positive response by both deer and elk from spring through fall to the <br />forage available on the reclaimed lands, (7) during the •.rinters of 1932, <br />1993 and 1934 there is a positive correlation between available (unfenced) <br />haystacks and eik presence and (3) continued feeding of hay to elk along <br />Trout Creek during the winter will most probably result in increased use of <br />the Moffat area. <br />